Yeah - My wife is coming to Airventure 2010 -- Need Suggestions for getting OK Site at Schoeller....

Doug,

To get a good spot is either done by showing up early or having a friend that arrives early pay for a spot for you and stake it out. They open camp Schoeller 30 days earlier  than the show and you can reserve a spot but you have to pay from the day from which you reserve the spot and that adds up to A LOT of money.

Wednesday seems to be the day that a large amount of people leave, so if you drive around you can usually find a decent spot.

If your budget allows, you can contact a local RV dealer and they will deliver a camper to camp Schoeller for you. It could anything from a pop-up to motor home, it all depends on your budget, just a thought, or you can reserve a hotel room ($$$$$) or dorm room, I personally would camp.

What ever you do i'm sure you will have a blast.

I hope this helped you some.

  Brian

Doug,

   I would have to agree with brian if you know some one that will be attending before you get there on having them pay for your spot. because they do check to make sure the camping sites are paid for if there saved your best bet would be to get there early and i have found it to be pretty quiet by the creek bed if you look at the camp map down by cottonwood ave and 12th ave some were in there its usually pretty dark and the hwy traffic is muffled and ur far enough from the 24hr gen area that you shouldnt here that...i have tent camped there before and loved it this last year happend to get a place alot closer but it wasnt the same and am planning on going back by the creek this year.. im hoping to go up the friday morning before it all starts and if ur intrested id be glad to help if you need it

   hope this helps

andy

Andy & Brian - Thanks for your suggestions.

Andy - what did you miss about 12th and cottonwood when you got your spot up closer?

I'm on a reasonably tight budget so tent camping is the most likely option for me.  I'm surprised (and pleased) to hear that EAA is actually enforcing that "saved" sites must be paid for.  Frankly, there were a ton of nice spots available but they were all roped off and there was no indication to me that anyone had paid for them.  It was a bit frustrating at the time....I looked at he Camp Scholler map.  Last year I was at the corner of Stitts & Lindberg.  It was nice that it was close to the bus line but boy...being somewhere in the 40th street - 50th street sure would be nice. 

I'm very excited to be bringing the whole family this year.  There is so much to do for everyone.  My kids have each loved their trips in the past even though neither of them have the aviation "bug" yet (although my 7 year old is showing signs of it...).  I'd love to make it a family event each year but I know the camping situation is going to become an issue for my wife.  She is a light sleeper and after a few nights of poor rest, she is ready to go home.  Ugh!

Keep the thoughts coming.  Anyone know of a local chapter that saves some spots in the wooded area that I think is called "Paul's Park".  That would be ideal but likely impossible to get....

Thanks - Doug        

well i didnt like were i was cause we had a very small site could just fit the popup and truck in it was on the main drive right on the road around 21st street under the trees  happed to get this spot cause one of the co chairman of campground security had some extra room and  and thats also how learnd that if the paid camping cradentials werent on the marked spot they would unmark it as for beeing in that far up we were informed that it fills up well beond opening week when we went up it was fri and if it wasnt for him asking if we wanted to camp there we would have been around 13th street it was also alot quietr sence it was away from the gens and the main road..... when are you planning on comming up this year?

Doug,

I don't want to burst your bubble, and I highly encourage camping in Scholler.  That said, the only thing more difficult than getting a spot in Paul's Park is getting a spot in Audrey's Park (full electric/ water/ sewer hookups.)  Paul's woods fills up very early.  How early?  There is a small army of long time volunteers that literally come the night before the 30 day start date, camp out and stake out our spots at O-dark 30 on opening day.  By noon the woods are 2/3 taken.  Granted, most of these are long term volunteers and/ or Century Club members.  These are the people who get there a week (or more) ahead of show opening to get the grounds set up and ready to go, and stay long after closing to pack it back away.  So, spots in the woods are not likely to become available as the week progresses, as they are elsewhere in the campgrounds.

Yes, we get the best camping spots, but we definitely earn them!

That said, there are always spots to be had in Scholler.  Do like I do- sleep with foam earplugs and black eyeshades, and you won't notice the noise and will sleep like a baby.

Doug, as Doug said, Audrey's and Paul's park are used by the long time volunteers and is almost imposable to find a spot in, I have been lucky enough once "1" to camp in Paul's park, most of those spots are roped off by the EAA for them(volunteers, and they do deserve them) well in advance of the show, However, for the past 6 years I have camped on 53rd or 54th just south of Pauls park, its quieter as far as people noise but you still have the road noise.

Doug, if you see a roped off area WITHOUT a "camp sight credential" on it, all you need to do is go to the security desk or stop one of the many vw bugs and have it ok'ed with them. Saving spots without paying is not allowed and is wrong. But as before, there is a great exodus on wednesday and spots open up up front.

The best way to get the spot you want is to arrive early, or be contingent from over seas that travel in large groups,boy scout group etc.

good luck and let me know if there's anything I can do to help you.

Brian

Doug,

It sounds like you are really working hard to make sure your wife enjoys the experience of AV.  I think thats a really nice thing to do.

Asides from ensuring she sleeps well, do you think it would help her if she felt "involved", part of the whole event?  As you know AV happens because of the 4000+ volunteers who are deeply, or slightly, involved.  Perhaps, if she has the time between you dragging her round every inch of the grounds and showing her everything she has missed..
, she would like to get signed up to volunteer somewhere?  It is a great way to really meet people, make friends and find a niche within an overwhelmingly huge event.  And not all the volunteering areas involve aeroplanes!  Or maybe somewhere that you could volunteer together as a family?

Hope it all goes well for you when you introduce her to her first AV!. 

Doug,

Congrats on getting your wife to agree on camping at Airventure.  I wish I could do the same.  My chances are getting better now that there are some flush toilets.  Unfortunately, those generators are annoying, but I think they are supposed to turn them off after a certain time (10 or 11 pm).   I like the suggestion of another poster: earplugs and eyeshades.

Mike

Thanks for all the suggestions.

- Roped off spots:  I saw some folks reserving 10-20 spots with no sign of any payment.  Some of them had a stake with a camping sticker on it but that was by far the exception.  I personally would never "turn someone in" as it would make for an akward week instead a fun/social one.  Maybe they paid but just didn' put out anything.  Hard to believe the Oshkosh security guys would not say something if they did not.

- Volunteering:  I love this idea.  Is there a link which lists volunteer activities.  I'd particularly like to do something with my 7 & 9 year old.  I've never been to the SeaBase but love floatplanes (no reason for not going yet....I've just been so busy from sunrise to sunset that I have not made it).  Are there volunteer activities for the whole family at the SeaBase?

- Earplugs and eyeshades:  Works for me but not my wife.  In the past she has taken Ambien (she's not a pilot) and even that has only worked so-so.  Her heart is in the right place but after a few nights of poor sleep...she has had it.

- Flying in:  There is a slim chance I could fly in and then camp by the plane.  How is tiedown/camping decided for GA aircraft?  I'd be in a 1981 Piper Saratoga.  Where could I expect to be parked and are there shower facilities/flush toilets and electricity available in the shower houses.  I've never seen shower houses near the tiedown areas.

- I hate to rent a house near town but that might end up being my only viable choice.

Thanks again for the suggestions.  Any others, please post 'em!

Doug

I have flown in since 1981.

Camping in the North 40 affords you access to the shopping and restaurants north and west of the airport.

When my wife and kids came with me between 2001 and 2006, I would go to the grocery store during the end of the airshow and pick up fresh meat, frozen veggies and boil-a-bag rice. I brought a small gas grill with me and cooked dinner each night.

If you camp in the South 40 (alias North Fond du Lac), you will have quite a trek to the camp store for your vittles. I don't recommend hauling your stays worth of food and bottled water with you. It takes up too much space and weight.

Light weight fleece sleeping bags with a down throw provide comfortable sleeping, are light weight and pack small.

Most important is a tent with full bathtub floor, and a full length rain fly. Include extra stakes and rope for guying. Those of us who are regulars can attest to sad moments we have witnessed the experience of campers with less than adequate equipment.

Use paper plates and plastic utensils, throw them away after each meal. A pot, maybe a skillet, a small polypropolene cutting board, a small serrated kitchen knife, a serving spoon, a spatula and a small propane or Coleman fuel stove are all the cooking utensils you would need to bring with you.

For towels, the Sham-Wow synthetic things work well. They dry fast and you only need a 24"x24" piece for each person.

Try to avoid cotton clothing. Buy some inexpensive polyester hiking pants, polyester underwear, polyester t-shirts and polyester hiking socks. You can rinse/wash them out each day when you shower. Polyester wicks persperation away from the body so it can evaporate, keeping you cool. If it does get wet in a rainstorm, you body heat will dry it out. If you need it, there is a laundrymat at the northwest corner of the airport just outside the gate.

Hi Doug,

Not sure if this is an option for you, but there is another campground right next to Camp Scholler called Sleepy Hollow Farms. It is located straight out from the new tower. We've been camping there the last 3 years after some of the same things you described about Camp Scholler happened to us. You can search for them on the web and see if it is an option for you. We absolutely enjoy it and would recommend anyone to try them out.

David

I just checked out Sleepy Hollow.  Looks VERY promising.  Couple questions...

- They mention a shower house and "portable toilets".  Do they have flush toilets at least at the shower house?

- Says they are a "short walk" to the main gate.  How long would you say the walk is?  Shoeller is clearly farther away but the bus service makes it doable.

- What is the "community" like at Sleepy Hollow?  I love the "big family" feeling at Scholler.

- Silly question but I like to take the family to the EAA sponsored movie/popcorn each night.  Any idea how we would get back to Sleepy Hollow from the movie each night  about 10pm?

Thanks again for everyone's help!

Doug        

Volunteering...  http://airventure.org/volunteers/

And at the seaplane base... http://www.oshkoshseaplanebase.com/new_volunteer.htm

Housing options - http://www.visitoshkosh.com/eaa.cfm  Remember, you may not need to rent a whole house, some people just rent out rooms.

Sleepy Hollow is approximately half way between the museum and the main AV entrance gates.  And not a long walk from the fly in movie theatre.

I have camped in a TENT at Camp Schoeller for over 20 years......my suggestion is camp within a short distance of the camp store, shower house and shuttle bus stop. Stay away from ANY motorhome or even tent with a generator. (I've seen tents with TV and microwaves!) With food and a hot shower close by and a short walk to the shuttle, you can't get it much better. Stay away from main roads/paths and don't be closer than a couple rows to a porta potty....you'll hear the door slamming at all hours. (The ear plug idea might work?)              Good luck finding a spot!!!!!!!!       (It's usually easier on Wed./Thurs.)

I have a large tent I can stand up in and a second screen tent with a table and camp chairs for eating/relaxing at the end of the day.  If it rains, a small tent soon makes it much less enjoyable.  Especially for non-campers!

We have breakfast before taking the shuttle bus in the morning (expect aviation noise to wake you up!) and eat on the grounds during the day. When we get off the shuttle at the end of the day, I get something nice for the grill and ice for the cooler at the camp store and am glad for a relatively short walk to my site. Do not expect your wife to cook....unless she really WANTS to.....make it fun for her too!

We relax and start the charcoal and by the time we are done eating it may be getting dark. Use as many disposables as possible to make clean up easy.  Plan one or two 'must see' items for the next day and plan to take your time......you will never see it all.

Just accept that your wife may not be as thrilled as you are....prepare for a three day event at most....assuming good weather! She might like to sit and read a book while you go up and down rows of aviation heaven.  Have a small tarp/ground cloth and maybe a camp chair if this sounds good to her. Move her down a few rows and continue. Tired kids may like to lie down for a rest and it can be a good way to watch the airshow too.

Definitely go to Kidventure and Pioneer airport and the museum and plan on most of the day there....maybe save it for the second day.

Every time is different and camping with over 35,000 avaition nuts is ALWAYS an experience to remember!                    Curt

Good points Curt.  I've made more Oshkosh trips than I've missed since 1985. Have camped in a tent in Scholler, the North Forty, under the wing of my airplane in the Antique parking, stayed in our motorhome, stayed at the UW dorms and even stayed in a couple of the hotels.  One memory is better than the last.  My children (one boy, one girl) and my wife have been with me in some combination on about half of those trips.  Making sure that Doug plans things for the children and wife are excellent points. They need their space and, while they will undoubtedly be tolerant of looking at a gazillion airplanes with Doug, there comes a point where the family usually needs a break. They may not even realize it while they are there.  But, even if it is days, months or years later, if our experience is reflective of what you have yet to partake in,  they will look back fondly on the time they spent camping as a family at AirVenture.

Good Luck Doug!

To try to answer your specific questions:  I recommend flying in if at all possible.  I've never camped at Camp Scholler, but it sounds more likely to be noisy than airplane camping.  I've rarely been bothered by noise in airplane camping.  Except when the departures start in the morning, of course!  And I've even slept through some of those.

You'd camp in the North 40, on either side of the east-west runway.  Spaces are first-come, first-served.  Others may know when that fills up, I don't because I usually camp in the Vintage area.  I'd think by Tuesday or Wednesday there would be no problem at all getting a spot.  There are shower facilities, and now they have flush toilets.  [Australians call them "ablution blocks"--I like that.]  Just yesterday I read they're building a second shower house with flush toilets in the North 40.  There's electricity available at the shower houses but not at your campsite.  As someone else mentioned, the North 40 is good because it's closer to off-site places to eat than is Camp Scholler.  Shuttles run from the North 40 to the middle of the show.

Renting a room in a house nearby should be a real option.  I've done that twice and it worked well.  Some places are just a room, at others the people are extremely friendly and make you feel very much at home.  Another writer gave you the link to the rent-a-room website.

Good luck with your planning.  Have fun.

And if your family really runs out of patience with aeroplanes, theres always the waterpark or the outlet mall...

http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/Parks/Pollock.htm

http://www.theoutletshoppesatoshkosh.com/

Hi Doug,

I'd say that Sleepy Hollow is about a 5 minute walk to the gate. You walk right past the bus terminal which can take you around the Airventure grounds. There aren't any flush toilets at the shower house. They are all port-a-toilets. I will say they keep up with them and keep them clean. The Theater in the Woods is a short  couple minute walk.  I think you will find that no matter where you camp, you will meet a whole new family. Our Airventure family grows every year. My wife went with me the last 2 years and is now volunteering and really enjoys the people we meet.

David

Hey Doug,

Keep making any adjustment that is necessary to make the AirVenture Experience.  I have camped both with and without the wife.  Both are Fun!!  That is if  you think of the wife and her idea of fun and take that into consideration..  ( about one/two trips down along the flight line is usually a non flying wife limit.)  In the other replies, I think that I saw the key to success;  make provision at the camp for her creature comforts and take time to get her out of Dodge for a while.  The buses to the shopping areas are good for that.

My chapter (Chapter 59) has on a number of times, had a chapter site.  We went  early paid for extra spaces and set up a large tent next to my popup camper.  We generally prepared breakfast  and evening meals at the site.  I have to say that all participated in grocery shopping, meal preparation and cleanup.  I was the lead cook.  The evening bull sessions were great.  We usually locate near Lindberg and Stits, a little noisy but the benefits of location out weighs the other distractions.

Go for it, take the wife and kids, spend the time to make them happy and it will pay benefits over the years in a great family experience.  Also if they don't want to go each year get your Chapter to have a group area, it is also a lot of fun and a good learning experience.

Jon Botsford